Flying Pig (Virtual) Half Marathon

So, I was actually registered either for the Flying Pig 3 Way, or the 3 Way with Extra Cheese.  I genuinely can't remember.  Thursday and Friday I'd done my mile runs, so I had those down.  Saturday was the Get in Gear 10K. The next day I'd run a 5K indoor on the track at the gym.  And then I was all "crap, when am I going to run a half marathon".  As with most things, thinking about it was much worse than doing it.

Race Day
Start time: My alarm was set for 5am.  I actually woke up around 4:40am and took it as a sign.
Weather: So much better than Get in Gear.  Wind was in my face going north, but otherwise around 45*.
Wardrobe: Shirt and pull over on top, shorts and compression socks on the bottom.  I used my race vest to carry my phone plus a portable charger due to a technical fail last night.
Transportation to start line:  LOL.  No.
Route: I started in my neighborhood and ran along Victory Memorial Parkway.  I went around Crystal Lake in Robbinsdale, then back east along the parkway over to the river.  To emulate the Flying Pig I crossed the river (first time) and headed north on the Fridley side.  With the wind in my face.  Then I crossed back over the river (also like the Pig) and headed south with the wind at my back.  That was much better.
Plan/Goals: I'd ultimately decided on a run 1:00, walk 1:00 plan.  My goal was to beat my last super untrained half marathon excursion which was around 3:36. I really wanted to be under 3:30. I was kind of a technical disaster.  My phone didn't charge right so I had that battery.  I'd changed some of the screen settings on my watch so I was worried the screen brightness plus run/walk alerts would drain that battery....
Execution: I generally stuck to the 1/1 plan.  I walked a couple super steep up hills during my 'run' time, and ran some down hills during my 'walk' time.  Adjustments like that were key to my secondary plan of "don't blow up"
Nutrition: I stuffed a salted avocado in my mouth at 4:40am before I got dressed.  I carried sour patch kids with me and I had enough for 100 calories every 3-4 miles.  I ate about a third of what I brought.  I took two salt tabs (carried four).  I had one bottle of water with me, and that was enough but if I'd had my second bottle I would've started in on it.
Results: Significantly better than expected. I was able to wrap up in 3:25, with most of my miles around 15:00/mile, which is about 1:00 faster than I expected. 

From today, I learned: This was a pleasant surprise.  I'm in better shape than I expected.  I couldn't get my results properly loaded in the website, so I sent an email and the race team helped me out very quickly.
SWAG: I haven't seen it yet, but it's the Pig so I expect I'll enjoy it.
Remember for next time: That course was almost exactly half marathon distance.  I hope I don't need that info too often.
Bonus: Done on a work day.  I didn't actually blow up today.  I expect that to happen tomorrow.  Post race day is what I usually call "eat all the things" day because that's when it hits me.

Get in Gear 10K

 Day(s) before: 

Expo: Expo is too strong a word, but there was a packet pick up at Minnehaha Falls the day before the race. It was kind of weird actually.  The bibs were in one place and the shirts were in another far away place and I did not get a gear check bag.  The volunteer thought they'd have them the next day.
 Transportation to/from expo: I liked that parking in the lots was included for packet pick up.
 Expo SWAG: Technical t-shirt, and a fleece hat.  My Minnesota peeps will understand why this is so cool.

Race Day
 Start time: Race starts at 9am.
 Weather: Absolute crap.  Wind and rain.
 Wardrobe:  I had throw away clothes over running shorts, running shirt, and arm sleeves. I also pulled out an old race belt that I thought would do better in the rain with my car key and phone.
 Transportation to start line: Did we talk about the rain?  Because I drove to the race.  I aimed to leave my house around 7am, get parked close by about 7:30am, and then sit in my car until 8:30am.  That's about what I did.  When I entered the rain storm, I went to the bathroom, hung out in the super cramped enclosed pavilion with everyone else, and did tai chi but no walking or running to warm up.  Turned out better than expected. 

Route: Get in Gear follows roughly the Ford/Lake loop.  North in Minneapolis, over the Lake Street bridge, South in St Paul and then back over the Ford bridge.
Plan/Goals: I had a few ideas in my head.  Maybe run and don't blow up.  Maybe run/walk.  Mostly don't blow up.
Execution: I started running and I felt good, so I decided to go with a strongly controlled "don't die at the end please" pace and just kept it even.  It was fast for me in my current fitness level.
 Nutrition: I woke up and had half a salted avocdao smashed on a small bagel.  I didn't want much.
 Results: The most surprising stat on the race page was the participation.  It's waaay up from last year but super way down from where it normally is. 
 From today, I learned: The "do not blow up" plan worked well.  The race is surprisingly difficult at the end.  It's just one little stupid hill after another.  So I was worn out at the finish, but I had the energy to get there.
 Remember for next time: 7:30am arrival time worked well.  I got super great parking.
 Bonus: I also counted this as my virtual Flying Pig 10K which I feel is legit.